29 Jan 2026
Why local elections matter
Local elections in England and Wales in May 2026 will decide who runs councils and local authorities, and those councils make decisions that affect people’s lives every day – from housing quality and energy efficiency to transport, green spaces, planning decisions and how communities are supported through things like flooding or extreme heat.
At a time when climate action is being questioned or attacked in parts of the media and politics, the May 2026 local elections are a really important moment for Friends of the Earth groups. They’re a chance to show that climate justice is about safer communities, lower bills, better health and fairer lives. Elections are also a point when candidates tend to be more open to listening, especially when they’re hearing directly from people in their own communities.
It’s also worth being aware that in some places councils have already shifted politically in ways that put climate action at risk. There’s a separate resource, Navigating political council changes: a guide for groups, which goes into more detail on this context and how groups can respond if local politics becomes more hostile to climate justice
Why should you care?
Local authorities are a great way to get stuck into politics and make a huge difference where you live. They’re looking at things that are going to impact your life much more immediately than what national government are doing.
Local government plays a massive role in this – from responsibilities over recycling to road schemes and home energy. It has the authority to vote against climate-wrecking projects, like mines, and is critical to tackling big issues such as climate breakdown. What's more, local government represents people at a local level. Your vote counts.
Where elections are happening
Local elections take place across England and Wales in May 2026. Not all councils will be involved as not every area votes every year. What’s happening will depend on where your local Friend of the Earth action group is based.
Elections may be taking place for:
- District, borough and city councils
- Unitary authorities
- Metropolitan councils
- Combined authorities and mayors (in England)
- Principal councils (in Wales)
You can check whether there are local elections in your area, and what type they are, on your local council website or on the Electoral Commission website.
Friends of the Earth's overall local elections strategy
Our approach for Friends of the Earth groups in England is rooted in listening, building community power and offering hope. We also have a guide to campaigning in Wales ahead of the Senedd elections.
Rather than starting with a set of demands, we begin by listening to people in our communities about what matters most to them. Groups then connect these everyday concerns to climate and social justice, using our policy asks as a starting point.
This approach is especially important given the current political climate. We’re seeing more polarisation, misinformation and attempts to turn climate action into a culture war. Starting from listening helps ground our work in real local priorities and build broader support
What will Friends of the Earth local action groups do?
- Listen – through surveys, conversations, stalls and partnerships
- Reflect – to identify shared local priorities
- Create a Charter of Hope – a short set of community-backed priorities
- Engage candidates – to make sure climate justice is part of local election conversations in the run up to May 2026
This approach helps build wider public support for climate action, strengthens local groups and partnerships, and helps candidates feel more confident speaking up for fair climate solutions. All of this is done in line with Friends of the Earth’s political impartiality policy.
Read our guide for getting involved in your local election campaign.